Stress and anxiety can affect people differently at various times. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) recognizes that, because of the uniqueness of each patient, triggers and symptoms will show up differently.
In this article, I will offer you two approaches to stress and anxiety that you can use at home to alleviate the effects and symptoms of stress. Home protocol treatments like these are often given to patients after acupuncture sessions to prolong the effects of the treatments and to provide the patient with tools to manage their symptoms between treatments. These protocols are just a sample of the beneficial effects of TCM.
Step one is for everyone… Remember to BREATHE. Your autonomic nervous system (ANS) connects your brain to your body via a two-way street. Stress, anxiety, and nervousness signal your brain via the ANS to turn on your fight or flight response. This results in a faster heartbeat and breathing rates, in turn raising your blood pressure and slowing down your digestion, to name just a few.
Taking control of your breathing will essentially convince your brain that things are calm and peaceful. Each deep, rounded inhalation and exhalation will allow your heart to relax a little. DEEP BREATHING IS FREE; DO IT OFTEN.
REN-17 Shan Zhong/ Chest Center: This is an excellent point to use when you want to deepen your breathing. Press and/or massage it to open the Qi in the lungs and chest. It really helps alleviate symptoms like shortness of breath, a very common symptom of stress and anxiety.
Ren-17 is safe to use on children and babies, too; just don’t use as much pressure. Your child will let you know it’s had enough by moving away from your touch; remember, children need a lot less pressure and healing time than we adults need.
Approach A:
When you are stressed, do you get irritable and notice at times you have a little road rage? Do you get headaches or have high blood pressure? Then, try these selected acupressure points to relieve your symptoms from stress. Additional things you can try are regular exercise and supplementing mint tea instead of coffee when applicable.
Regularly pressing on these two points can help reduce your tendency toward irritability, frustration, and tension. Firmly apply pressure to the points using the tip of your thumb for 10–15 seconds at a time.
LR3 Taichong (Great Rushing)– Promotes the free flow of Qi in the head, eyes, throat, chest, heart, abdomen, stress irritability PMS.
GB-20 Fengchi (Wind Pool)
Relieves irritability, headaches, dizziness, neck pain, trauma, shock, hypertension
KD-1 Yongquan (Gushing Spring)
Calms the spirit, descends excess from the head, grounding.
Approach B:
When you are stressed, do you experience heart palpitations (noticing your heart beating), shortness of breath, forgetfulness, fatigue, or dizziness? Do you worry and become fearful? Then, try these selected acupressure points to relieve your symptoms from stress. Additional things you can try are restorative exercises like taking a walk, yoga, or stretching. Supplement warming foods, but avoid sweets and added sugar.
Regularly pressing on these points can help reduce your tendency towards worry and fear. Firmly apply pressure to the points using the tip of your thumb for 10–15 seconds at a time.
HT-5 Tongli (Penetrating the interior)
Calms the emotional aspect of the spirit and regulates the heart’s rhythm. Sadness and fright.
PC- 6 Neiguan (Inner pass)
Regulates and calms the heart and spirit, unbinds the chest, and harmonizes the stomach.
